Israel Not Yet Prepared to Discuss Nuclear-Free Zone

Israel would support discussions aimed at establishing a nuclear-weapons free zone in the Middle East only if peace were achieved throughout the region, the New York Times reported today (see GSN, July 8).

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told visiting International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Mohamed ElBaradei yesterday that such a discussion could take place, but did not say when.

“It’s not a new policy, but affirming that policy at the level of prime minister I thought to be quite a welcome development,” ElBaradei said.

However, Israeli officials said that Israel’s policy of “nuclear ambiguity” had not changed.

“At least for now, we see no reason, justification or requirement to change it,” said a senior official with Israel’s Atomic Energy Commission (Greg Myre, New York Times, July 9).

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